John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 Take Backward Our Union - TBOU has got to understand that the issue here is about his leadership. The failure of the TWU Local 100 on appearance is not as bad as the failure of TWU Local 100 on substance. So lets turn on the issue of the contract, let us take just one key element as noted in the HAVOC survey - wages. One key individual who is the person responsible for steering us through this contract is Stephen A Downs, chair of the train operators who has recently produced faulty edicts - now John E Samuelsen is relying on him. Can he inform us on what basis?
It is clear there is no policy from Samuelsen or Downs to mount the contract negotiations thus they are incapable with dealing with the big issues faced with this TWU Local 100. Now the question is are they able to lead us to a great contract? What can they achieve for us? What plans of action do they have ready to deploy in the event we reach an impasse? Nothing. What would they do to help the membership? Nothing. What have they done to help the remaining laid off brethren? Nothing. What is their basis for their policy? Is it to do nothing. Now will they appear in court on September 12 or 21? They may be missing in action.
Are Samuelsen and Downs doing a good job or are they just talk, talk, talk but no action. If Samuelsen was missing in action during tropical storm Irene why should the membership believe in John E Sameulsen. Here we have no confidence in Samuelsen and Downs - one was missing in action while the other produces faulty unreliable information. It serious for the well being of the membership - to take TWU Local 100 forward into the 21st century. Clearly this duo team is collapsing before our eyes.
Tropical storm Irene proved to the membership that John E Samuelsen and Stephen A Downs have no substance in anything they say. When the membership had to work for long hours they did not have nutrition. Samuelsen and Downs are full of words, words, words - we will get on with the action. Membership now feels no one is in charge at the union hall due to the fact that no one deals with the problems they are faced with. It is obvious the duo Samuelsen and Downs do not get that their leadership is paralyzed by indecision, and crippled with infighting which exhausted it. Now there is leadership void - John E Samuelsen and Stephen A Downs are finished they have nothing to offer to the membership. Isn't it obvious that a new leadership will emerge in the election next year with new ideas to lead us forward not backward.
